Allegiance Nazi Germany Service/branch Kriegsmarine | Name Karl-Friedrich Brill Battles and wars World War I, World War II | |
Born 18 July 1898
Stolzenau ( 1898-07-18 ) Rank Fregattenkapitan of the Reserves Commands held Minenschiff "Cobra"
Minenschiff "Juminda" Battles/wars World War I
World War II Died October 22, 1943, Porto Santo Stefano, Italy Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | ||
Dr.-Ing. Karl-Friedrich Wilhelm Anton August Brill (18 July 1898 – 22 October 1943) was a Fregattenkapitan of the Reserves with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and member of the Marinebrigade Ehrhardt in the aftermaths of World War I. He is also a posthumous recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Brill was killed in action when the Minenschiff "Juminda" was sunk on 22 October 1943 west of Porto Santo Stefano by three American torpedo boats from the 15th Squadron MTB coming from the base of La Maddalena. PT 212, PT 206, PT 216 launched several torpedoes but only the PT 212 scored 2 hits at the stern of the vessel.
More than 60 German sailors were killed in this engagement, while only sixteen of them were saved. The body of Karl-Friedrich Brill was found in the sea two days later and buried with military honors on 27 October 1943 at the cemetery of Orbetello and then transferred to the German cemetery at Pomezia.
Brill was also SA-Sturmbannfuhrer zur Verwendung (for disposition) of the SA-Standarte 17, Ludwigshafen (Group Kurpfalz). He was promoted to SA-Standartenfuhrer in conjunction with the Knight's Cross presentation.